Oat-clipping machine.



Patented Man-. 6, I900. W. MATTHEWS.

OAT CLIPPING MACHINE. A ucamn filed Dec. 16, less.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

I i FR No. 644,774. Patented Mar. 6, 1900. W. MATTHEWS.

OAT CLIPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1898.}

(No Model.) 4 Sheets$heet z,

Jaf d? mix-15ml *2 2 I i H H IW l "M i UWH l Wi f W 's" U W W 4 l o 4 8iii: A HM. r]\@ is; I w as No. 644,77 Pafehted Mar. 6, I900. w.MATTHEWS.

OAT GLIPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1393.) .(N o Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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Patented Mar. 6 8900 I ks W. MATTHEWS. OAT GLIPPINQ MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1898.

(No Model.)

it T \II\ THE NORRIS PETERS CO FNfi'O-LIYHO \NKSNINGTON, D, C,

FFICE.

PATENT WILLIAM MATTHEWS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

bAT 'CLIPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent at. 644,774, dated March e,1906. Application filed December 16, 1898. Serial No. 699,515. (Nomodel.)

To all 1071/0771, 77; nu/.1 (co/merit:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MATTHEWS, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Oat-Clipping Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification."

This invention relates to machines of the,

class known as oat-clipping machines, intended for the purpose ofremoving the blow end from oats or other grains and also cleaning fromthe same dirt, mold, and other impurities.

The'invention relates more specifically to an oat-clipping machine ofthat kind having an inner cylinder provided with heaters and rotating ina surrounding casing or shell, and itembraces an improved means foradjusting the shell with respect to the cylinder, an improvedconstruction in such shell, and other matters hereinafter described, andpointed out in the appended claims.

As shown in the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partlyin elevation, of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewon line 3 3 of Fig.2. Fig. A is a plan View of the inner side of the rear head. Fig. 5 is asectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 isa detail sectionalView of the shoe, rub-iron, and way. Fig. 7-is a detail of the innerside of a stave of the shell. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of saidstave.Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the shell and cylinder,showing the relative position of said parts.

In the drawings is shown a rectangular frame A, of wood or othersuitable material. J ournaled in said frameis ahorizontal rotating shaftB, provided at one end with a beltpulley B and carrying at its oppositeend the fans of the exhaust-blower G. Rigidly secured to the said shaftat its middle portion is a metallic cylinder 0, having the form of afrustum of a cone and having the larger end or base thereof adjacent tothe blower G. Upon the outer surface of the said cylinder are locatedoutwardly-extending radial ribs or heaters C permanently secured to thecyl-' indcr. Surrounding the said cylinder 0 and centered upon theshaft, longitudinally mov-' able in relation thereto, but not rotativethere} on, is an apertured metallic shell D, composed of a plurality ofsimilar longitudinal staves K. The said shell is supported in the frameA and adapted to be moved horizontally on suitable longitudinal guidesor ways thereof by means of the adjusting mechanism I. The said shell issimilar in form to the said cylinder and similarly located. The smallerend of the said shell is slightly greaterin its inte rior diameter thanthe external diameter of the smaller end of the cylinder 0, includingthe beaters G The said shell D having greater length than the cylinder,the longitudinal adjustment of the shell in the direction of its lesserdiameter serves to increase the distance between the heaters O and theinterior of the shell, while movement of the shell in'the direction ofits greater diameter decreases the distance between the beaters and theinner surface of the shell. A rectangular casing E, secured to the frameA, surrounds the shell D at its top and sides. The said shell isprovided at its larger end with a closed head D, rigidly securedthereto, provided with a discharge-apertu re d in its lower part,

covered by a metallic bonnet d rigidly attachedto the head D. Thesmaller end of the said shell is closed by the head D rigidly attachedthereto. The said heads D D are rectangular in form and of suiiicientarea and extended sufiiciently beyond the shell to constitute closuresfor the casing E, within the ends of which'they fit closely and areadapted to slide with the shell I).

The frame A consists of two equal similar sides of WOOdOI other suitablematerial, each formed by three vertical uprights a, connects ed at thetop by a side piece a in such manner that there is an upright at eachend and the third upright, which is connected nearer one end-than theother of said side piece a". Side pieces a a connect said uprights atpoints above the base. The two sides thus formed are joined byhorizontal cross-pieces at the ends and at the middle upright, so thatthe frame as a whole comprises two compartments, one being larger thanthe other and having its greatest length horizontal. The

other, being joined to the end of the horizontal compartment, has itsgreatest length vertical. The side pieces of the larger or horizontalcompartment are parallel. The pieces a a being at the same level formlower ways, and the pieces a a being at the same level form the upperways, upon and between which the shell D is movable. The inner angles ofthe said side pieces form the bearing or guide surfaces for the shell,and if said side pieces be constructed of wood are pro- Vided withangle-iron wear-plates a, rigidly secured to the side pieces anddesigned to lessen the friction due to the movement of the shell.

The rotative shaft B extends horizontally and longitudinally through themiddle part of the frame A and is journaled in suitable bearings Z) I),supported on cross-pieces rigidly secured to the ends of the frame. Atthe end of the larger compartment'of the frame the end of the shaft B,as shown in the drawings, projects beyond the frame and bearing and isprovided with a driving-pulley B, rigidly secured thereon. The cylinder0 is located within the frame, with the smaller end adjacent to thedriving-pulley, and is rigidly sustained upon the shaft B, which extendsaxially therethrough by means of the closed heads 0 C and the centraltransverse diaphragm C which are provided with the integral concentrichubs c c 0 The said hubs are rigidly secured upon the shaft by means ofsuitable key-seats and keys or by any other suitable means. The beatersOtare longitudinally secured upon the periphery of the cylinder and arepreferably constructed "of angle-iron bolted or otherwise rigidlysecured to the cylinder in such manner that the flange thereof extendsradially outward from the periphery of the cylinder. The said heatersare of such length as to extend beyond the cylinder at each end.thereof. The end portions of said beaters,w-hich extend beyond the frontorsmall end of the cylinder, are slightly curved in the direction of therotation thereof.

The metallic shell D, which surrounds the cylinder 0, is like in formthereto and similarly situated. The said shell is composed of likeapertured longitudinal staves K, joined at the ends to the closed headsD D and securely bolted or otherwise rigidly secured together at theiredges by means of the apertured external lugs 70. The said staves, asshown in the drawings, are sixteen in number and are provided on. theinner sides witha plurality of raised angular obliquely transverseconverging ridges K, which increase uniformly in height toward the rearor broader end of the stave. The said ridges when the staves are mountedto form the shell form a plurality of spiral raised converging ribs K,extending from end to end on the inner surface of the shell. The leadthereof uniformly decreases in pitch and is in the direction of therotation of the cylinder and toward the rear of the shell.

The groove or channel be-- tween the said ridges is comparatively broadand forms a continuous channel for the conveyance of the cats or grainin said machine from the smaller to the larger or rear end of the shell.The stave is so constructed, however, or so set in relation to thecylinder 0 that the distance from the beaters O to the bottom of thesaid groove diminishes uniformly toward the rear or broader end of thestave, while owing to the convergence of the ridges K aforesaid thespace between them becomes uniformly less. It will thus be seen that thesize of the said groove diminishes uniformly from the smaller toward thelarger end of the cylinder, while the said ridges K, constituting therib, approach uniformly nearer to the heaters C and thus confine thegrain in the said groove. This is a matter of importance, inasmuch asthe loose or more readily removable refuse will be removed first or soonafter the grain has entered the machine, while the more closely adherentmatter will require greater friction for its removal. Hence it isdesirable that the friction upon the grain should uniformly increasefrom the moment it enters the shell until its discharge therefrom.Obviously this is accomplished by providing a uniformly-narrowing grooveand also by increasing the velocity of the grain in the grooves, whichis accomplished by the uniform increase in the diameter of the shelltoward the rear or discharge end. Extending transversely across theridges K and approximately at right angles thereto are the elevations KThe said elevations are slightly less in height than the ridges orthreads K and serve to interrupt the passage of the grain in the grooveand constantly stir the same in its conduction through the machine. Asherein shown, each stave is provided with a line of said elevationsextending the entire length of the stave and centrally located. Betweenthe said ridges the staves are provided with aplurality of minuteelongated apertures K for the exit of dust and dirt extending throughthe stave, as herein shown. The said apertures have thus greaterdimension approximately parallel with the ridges K and are arrangedstaggering to each other. The said heads D D are each provided with araised integral internal ring (1 concentric with the shaft B, having itsexternal diameter equal to the inner diameter of the corresponding endsof the shell, which fit about the said ring and are rigidly securedthereto by bolts or other convenient means. The corners of the heads DD? are provided with metallic angular shoes (1 adapted to slide on thelower side bars a a as ways and between the same and the upper side barsa a. Preferably the inner lower angles of said side bars a u. andtheinner upper angles of the side bars a a will be provided with angle-ironwearplates a rigidly secured thereto. As shown in 'the drawings, thesaid angle-iron wearplates a are let into the said side bars, the

webs thereof extending along the inner sides of the said side bars andthe flanges thereof extending outwardly along the lower and the uppersides, respectively, of the said bars. Annular bearing-pieces d areinserted between the said shoes d and wear-plates a, and set-screws d 61extend through the said shoes d to engage the bearing-pieces and forcethe same firmly against the ways a a and a a, and thereby adjust theshell within the frame. Said bearing; pieces and setscrews afford ameans of accurately adjusting the shell with respect to the shaft incase the parts of the frame become warped or the shell is found to beout of its true position for other causes. The adjusting mechanism Iconsists of a nut t, set in a transverse crossbar a of the frame A witha screw-threaded shaft 7 extending therethrough parallel to the shaft Band secured rotatively at its inner end to the head D and havingscrewthreaded engagement with the said nut 2'. The outer end of thescrew is provided with a crank or other suitable rotating means. Thelongitudinal adjustment of the shell is effected by turning the saidshaft 2" in the fixed nut 2'. The outward rotation of the said shaftwill thereby draw the shell in the direc tion of its less diameter,while the inward rotation thereof will push the shell in the directionof its greater diameter, thereby increasing the space between thebeaters G and the shell D.

The head D is provided at its upper part with an aperture surrounded bya hopper d, which is rigidly attached to the said head and designed todischarge the grain into the shell. Above the said hopper (Z andsupported by the frame is a hopper d, containing a riddle of the usualform designed to receive the grain from the spouts of an elevator orother source and pass the same on through the machine, the largerforeign bodies being removed by means of the riddle. A hopper F isattached to the bottom of the casingE and is in open communication withthe interior thereof. The exhaust-fan G and its casing G are constructedin the usual manner and provided with an air-suction pipe g, connectedwith an air-chamber g, provided with an airsuction i e'lhesaidair-suction i econ- P P P P nects with the grain-spout conveyinggrain falling from the bonnet d into the branch g of the said pipe 9 Abranch 9 of the said pipe extends along the top of the casing E andcommunicates with the interior of the said casing and the apertu redshell D therein by means of apertures 13 ee, extending through the saidcasing and the aforesaid apertures in the shell D, respectively.

The spout or pipe 9 is provided with the weighted valve Z, which isdesigned to be lifted by the flow of the grain, and the lower edgethereof rests at all times upon the surface of the moving grain in saidspout.

The suction-pipe g is provided in its lower end with a weighted hingedshutter Z, the

lower edge of which is designed to rest against the surface of themoving grain in a familiar manner. The valve Z is located in the upperpart of the said pipe and is designed to regulate the air-draft in thesaid pipe. I A slideshutter Z is located in the end of the upperhorizontal pipe g at the point where the same enters the pipe 9 and isdesigned to regulate the draft of air in said pipe. The outer end of thepipe g opens into the air chamber g, which is constructed in the usualform for 'such machines, and is, in effect, a hopper wherein iscollected any of the lighter grain which may be carried thereto by theair-current. A slide Z is located in the side wall of the said chamberto permit of regulating the draft, and a hinged depending valve Z islocated in the lower part of said chamber in such manner as to close thesame when the slide Z is opened to remove such grain as may accumulatetherein. r

The operation of the machine is as follows: The shaft B, with thecylinder 0 and fan G, is rotated by any desired motor. Oats or othergrain is poured into the hopper d, whereby the operation of riddles (notshown in the drawings) the larger foreign bodies are removed. Passingthrough the hopper cl the grain by its gravity falls into the hopper d,from which it passes into the small end of the shell D through theaperture in the head D Within the shell the grain is swept by the curvedends of the beaters 0 attached to the rotating cylinder 0, into thespiral groove between the ridges or ribs 7a 7a. The passage of the grainalong the said groove is partially obstructed or retarded at certainpoints by the ridges and at the said points the grain is compacted andrubbed together or scour-ed by means of the obstruction afforded by saidridges 70 to the moving grain impelled by the said beaters. It isevident that the said scou ring'must occur to a greater or less extentthe entire length of the said grooves; but its greatest effect will beat or near said ridges, and also that owing to the conical form of theshell the scouring eifect increases toward the rear or discharge end ofthe shell because of the increased velocity of the grain, due to theincreasing diameter of the shell and the uniform narrowing of thegrooves toward the larger or discharge end of the said shell. By meansof the fan G and air-pipe g g g g and the apertures e e e of the casingand apertures K of the shell the air during the entire operation ofthemachine is exhausted from the interior of the said shell, carrying withit the dust, mold, and fine chaff into the fan and therefrom dischargingit. The suction of air through the said apertures tends to cause thegrain to cling closely to the bottom of the groove between the ridges,and. this aids greatly in the scouring. The said ridges K serve tochange the position of the grain in the current, causing that on top togo to the bottom, and thus constantly agitates, mixes, and rubs thegrain, removing thereby the blow and other adherent matter, such asmold. Inasmuch as considerable matter is removed from the grain in theform of dust during its passage through the said shell it becomes lessin volume. Hence the importance of contracting the size of the groove asit approaches the rear end of the shell, which is done, as heretoforedescribed, by decreasing the pitch of the spiral thread, causing thesame to converge and to approach moreclosel y to the heaters C and alsoby constructing or setting the stave in such a manner that the distanceof the bottom of the groove from the beater shall uniformly diminishtoward the rear of the shell D. As a further and separate improvementthe said staves are constructed as heretofore described, but with theribs so disposed upon the inner surface thereof that the saidstaves willbe exact duplicates of each other, as shown in Fig. 7. This'is of greatimportance, inasmuch asit reduces cost of construction and renders itimpossible for mistakes to occur in ordering duplicate staves in case ofrepair. As the grain reaches the rear end of the cylinder it passesthrough the aperture d and falls into the spout g It is there subject tothe up- Ward draft of air in pipe g which removes any remainingimpurities and passes downwardly in said spout and out of the machine.

The adjusting mechanism is ofgreat importance, inasmuch as it enablesthe operator to adjust the machinewith the utmost nicety to the exactdegree of scouring required. This is done without stopping the machineand without disturbing any parts connected withthe rotating shaft B andits attached rotating members. The said shell is rigidly held in theframe at any desired point of ,adjustment and cannot by any possibilitybecome shifted except by the volition of the operator. There is no partwhich by its wearing is likely to endanger the life or efliciency of themachine. The adjustment is accomplished by means of set-screws d and thethreaded shaft I moving the shell on its ways in the direction of itssmaller diameter if it be desired to scour closely and the reverse ifitbe desired to scour less closely.

Inasmuch as the different grades, qualities, or kinds of grain requiredifferent treatment it is desirable that the cylinder and shell beadjustable to each other, thereby moving the heaters nearer to the shellfor some grades of grain or removing them farther therefrom for certainother grades or kinds. Attempts have been made to attain this endbyseveral devices, one of which was to construct the beat ers in such amanner and so attach the same to the cylinder that the said heaterscould be moved outwardly or inwardly with respect to the cylinder. Thisconstruction, however, necessitated stopping, removing apart of theshell, and adjusting the heaters individually to the work required whena change was necessary and did not prove satisfactory to the users ofsuch machines owing to the loss of time and inaccuracy of adjustment.

It also sometimes occurred that the bolts holding the heaters to thecylinder were not properly se'- cured or were loosened by the resistanceof the grain to the rotary movement of the cylinder, the heaters comingloose from the cylinder causing damage to the shell. In another machinethe adjustment was made by means of a sliding engagement of the cylinderwith its axial shaft. Inasmuch as machines of this class are usuallyheavily loaded, and the cylinders rotate at a comparatively high rate ofspeed, machines made in this manner'soon get out of order, the partsengaging the shaft becoming worn,and thereby throwing the cyl inder outof balance and necessitating expen sive repairs or destroying theefficiency of the machine. My device provides a means for quickly andaccurately adjusting the machine to the work to be done, entirely freefrom the defect heretofore common to machines for the purpose.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a supportingframe,of ahorizon tal'rotative shaft, j ournaled therein, a conical cylinderhaving a closed head rigidly secured on said shaft, radial flangesrigidly attached to the periphery of the cylinder, extending outwardlytherefrom, a conical, non rotative, longitudinally ad justable shell,like in form to and inclosing the cylinder, horizontalways, rigidlyattached to the frame, supporting the shell, means for moving the shelllongitudinally of the drum consisting of a rotative screw-threaded shaftconnected with said frame and shell and means for adjusting the shellvertically and laterally consisting of feet having a Vertical part and ahorizontal part, bearing-pieces between said feet and the ways, andset-screws having screw-threaded engagement with said feetand acting toforce the bearing-piece against the ways.

2. An improved shell consisting of interchangeable parts, for a machineof the class described, having on its inner surface aplurality of raisedspiral ridges circumferentially encircling the shell and transverseridges between said spiral ridges.

3. An improved conical shell constructed of interchangeable parts for amachine of the class described having on its inner surface a pluralityof raised spiral ridges circumferentially encircling the shell andtransverse ridges between said spiral ridges, saidv shell being providedwith a plurality of apertures between said ridges.

4:. An improved shell for a machine of the class described, having onits inner surface a plurality of spiral converging ridgescircumferentially encircling said shell the pitch thereof decreasingtoward one end of the shell and transverse ridges between said spiralridges.

5. -An improved shell for a machine of the class described, having onitsinner surface a plurality of spiral converging ridgescircumferentially encircling the same, the pitch thereof decreasing, theheight of said ridges increasing toward one end of the shell.

6. An improved shell for a machine of the class described, having on itsinner surfacea plurality of converging spiral ridges circumferentiallyencircling the same, the pitch thereof decreasing and the height of theridges increasing toward one end of the shell and transverse ridgesbetween said spiral ridges.

7. A shell for a machine of the character described provided in'teriorlywith a pluralityof encircling ridges forming between the same aplurality of encircling grooves, transverse ridges in said grooves, thewall of said shell being provided between said ridges with a pluralityof apertures and means acting to uniformly decrease the capacity of thegrooves toward the discharge end of the shell.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a drumprovided with peripheral flanges or boaters, of a surrounding shell,having on its inner surface a plurality of converging spiral ridgescircumfer entially encircling the shell, and forming between the same aplurality of spiral grooves, the height of said ridges increasing andthe pitch thereof decreasing toward one end of the shell, and transverseridges between the spiral ridges, a plurality of perforations in saidgrooves extending through the shell, said boaters being so adjusted withrespect to the shell that the distance from the edge of the beatcrs tothe bottom of the grooves uniformly decreases in the direction of thedecrease of the pitch of said spiral ridges.

9. An improved shell for a machine of the class described, said shellbeing conical and formed of a plurality of interchangeable duplicatestaves and having on its inner surface a plurality of raised spiralridges circumferentially encircling the shell.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a drumprovided with boaters, of a shell formed of a 'plurality ofinterchangeable duplicate staves, said shell having on its inner surfacea plurality of converging spiral ridges circumferentially encircling thesame, the height of said ridges increasing and the pitch thereofdecreasing toward one end of the shell, said shell being so related tothe drum, and its beaters, that the distance from the edge of theboaters to the bottom of the grooves uniformly decreases in thedirection of the decrease of the pitch of said spiral ridges.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affiX mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of November, A. D.1898. I

WILLIAM MATTHEWS.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLs, R. CUTHBERT VIVIAN,

